NVO BRS Ranch Assistant Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The BRS Ranch Assistant Manager will assist in the management of Black Rock Station (BRS) for the Burning Man Project (BMP) Staff and Community. Their primary duties will be working with Ranch Operations. Additionally, they will collaborate with the Auto Shop crew, Heavy Equipment and Transportation (HEaT) teams, Specialty Construction crews, and work weekend teams to ensure all have adequate access and space for work on the Ranch. 

This is a temporary, full-time, non-exempt role, based in Gerlach, NV running from March to November 2026.

The deadline to apply for this role is 5:00 pm Pacific on February 06, 2026.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Management (45%)  

• Assist in managing the 5 to 8 ranch crew to maximize efficiency and safety. 
• Collaborate with management in identifying safety issues on all properties.
• Provide instruction in safe equipment operations to all staff and visitors, when Black Rock Station Manager is unavailable.
• Assist in maintaining the overall security, organization, and functionality of BRS including the power, fuel, water, and waste systems, structures, shops, tools, miscellaneous storage, and general environment.
• Ensure that the grounds, shops, tools, materials, and all miscellaneous storage items at BRS are properly used and organized and safe at all times, and accessible for use by appropriate/approved members of the BM Community. 
• Greet and assist with work weekend activities, volunteers, and visitors at BRS and inform them of the protocols, procedures, and rules and how to best utilize the resources available when needed. 
• Ensure communications are prompt and professional and that needed discretion is maintained.
• Attend and support crew attendance to daily Morning Meetings.
• Participate in Managers’ Meetings, create reports, and maintain related correspondence.
• Monitor the well-being of staff, setting manageable work expectations.
• Monitor personal well-being, be aware of work expectations, and proactively address any concerns with the manager.
• Serve as a mentor, positive role model, and team leader directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job, instructing and sharing skills as necessary.
• Establish and oversee the maintenance of a clean and safe work site; ensure that all team members are provided with the necessary OSHA approved safety equipment.

Documentation (50%)  

• As requested by the BRS Manager, maintain site maps and direct postseason activities that include returning all portable assets from the playa, departments’ infrastructure stored on BRS, and event production items to their proper storage location on BRS.
• Maintain continuity in what and how work is documented.
• Provide and maintain inventories of construction materials on BRS. 
• As needed, submit receipts and any expense reports, ensuring forms are complete and submitted on time (within 30 days of transaction).
• Prepare written feedback to the Project Manager describing the successes and failures of the season with the purpose of improving overall efficiency and suggestions.
• Stay up to date with email correspondence and departmental communications. Distribute any relevant information to crewmembers in a timely fashion.
• Manage the collection and submission of staff working hours for bi-weekly payroll.
• Ensure that paychecks are distributed to the crew in a timely manner.
• Work with the Ranch Crew to plan and execute LNT and Waste disposal plans.
• Regularly produce comprehensive department and staffing schedules and effectively assign tasks.
• Collaborate with management to ensure the BRS Ranch Protocols are up to date and accurate. 

Other Functions and Responsibilities (5%)

• Maintain an awareness of the Nevada Operations and DPW timelines and plan for and organize work accordingly.
• Read, understand, and abide by the rules and codes of conduct as described in the Nevada Operations Compass, DPW Handbook and BRS Ranch Protocols.
• Perform various other duties as assigned

LEARNING AND TEACHING

• Documentation - Assists in the creation, publishing, and maintenance of process documentation related to their assigned duties.
• Knowledge sharing – Helps acculturate and educate junior staff in Burning Man culture and business processes.
• Training development - Collaborates with the education team to develop training materials in their area of expertise, as requested.
• Learning – Pursues ongoing learning in their area of expertise, working to stay current on emergent knowledge, skills, and processes.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED

• Clearly and concisely communicates verbally, visually, and through written correspondence. 
• Tailors communication to the receiving party with appropriate professionalism. 
• Experienced and comfortable with using 2-way radios. 
• Ability to direct and coordinate coworkers in a fast paced environment
• Strong organizational skills
• Knowledge of tools and their proper use and maintenance.
• Experienced in basic construction and shop practices.
• Physically fit and able to lift heavy objects (minimum 50 pounds) safely; willing to get dirty.
• Clearly and concisely communicates verbally and through written correspondence. 
• Experienced and comfortable with using 2-way radios.
• Maintains a respectful and polite demeanor, providing services with care and patience, offering thoughtful acknowledgment and accommodation of requests.
• Working knowledge of Google products (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Drive).
• Willing to learn and use MantainX for handling daily work orders.
• Reliable; fulfills obligations.
• Effectively manages own time.
• Open to change and considerable variety in daily tasks.
• Able to accept feedback and remain calm and focused under pressure.
• Encourages a collaborative work environment.
• Honest and ethical with a dedication to the Burning Man principles and behavioral standards.
• Able to adjust schedule seasonally to work at the Burning Man event held in Nevada.  

PREFERRED

• First-Aid knowledge.
• Experience in working as a heavy equipment operator.
• Handyman, plumbing, electrical, heavy equipment, or mechanical skills.
• It is helpful if the candidate has previously been to Burning Man and/or is familiar with its culture.

Note: If you have gained the necessary experience to succeed in this role and have acquired this experience in other ways, we encourage you to apply and share all relevant experience in your application.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• Valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
• OSHA 10 or 30 hour Certification (May be earned through in house training).

COMPENSATION: 

Individual compensation decisions are dependent on a variety of factors, including prior experience and geographical location. The anticipated pay rate for this position is $_18.00__ to $__20.00___ per hour.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Off-playa: This position requires periods of heavy lifting, bending, kneeling, squatting, and climbing.  This position will be physically demanding, and requires individuals with good physical health, and endurance. This will also include the need to find and meet with department representatives who may not be in the vicinity therefore this could include walking or using some form of transportation. Some of the work will be in outside weather conditions and will be exposed to fumes or airborne particles as well as possible extremes in temperature. 

• On-playa: This position requires periods of heavy lifting, bending, kneeling, squatting, and climbing.  This position will be physically demanding, and requires individuals with good physical health, and endurance. This will also include the need to find and meet with department representatives who may not be in the vicinity therefore this could include walking or using some form of transportation. Some of the work will be in outside weather conditions and will be exposed to fumes or airborne particles as well as possible extremes in temperature.

NOTICE FOR ALL APPLICANTS:

• Burning Man Project celebrates the importance of creating a diverse environment and enthusiastically encourages Black, Indigenous, Peoples of Color, LGBTQIA+, Immigrant, women, and people with disabilities, of all ages, to apply.
• Burning Man Project provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
• Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.